Ryan’s had a big year during COVID-19. His household has grown by two while facing down the pandemic, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m a first-time cat owner. I’ve owned tank turtles before, but never have I had pets of this magnitude before.”
He welcomed Ashy, his mixed grey Tabby, just as the first lockdown started last spring. Tony the little tiger joined the family just a few months later. Being a cat dad wasn’t always a part of the plan for Ry, but the chance to provide a loving home to someone who needed it certainly was.
“I didn’t grow up with a stable father figure, and always wanted a chance to be that for someone. This is that chance for me, I’m a single parent of two,” Ry said with a laugh.
Ryan knows just how important it is to have the safety and stability of a place to call home. Housing is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of any living creature, and Ryan knows what it’s like to fall short. For quite some time, he’s been a resident with Heartland Human Care Service’s (HHCS) Supportive Housing Services (SHS) program – a supportive housing program for individuals living with HIV.
As a longtime volunteer and advocate within the LGBTQ+ community for organizations like Howard Brown, Brothers Health Collective, AIDS foundation of Chicago, and the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, Ryan had known about HHCS’s housing services for years. In his search to find a stable community, he’s always been intrigued by the possibility of living in an HHCS-supported building.
A born artist, Ryan’s always considered ‘space’ in more ethereal terms. That space is more than just a place to be, it’s a place to create. Ryan was excited to learn that Heartland was leading property management moving forward in his space. While he continues to work in the retail/customer service field, his home with HHCS provides him the space necessary to follow his own creative impulses.
A cartoonist and sketch artist when he was younger, Ryan has shifted his passion into digital art and fashion. He has his own clothing line, Beardo Brand Chicago, a fashionable array of designs and colors catered towards the eccentric bearded man in the big city.
“Growing up that quirky gay kid in the hood was…interesting. I’m naturally a nerd, so that all tied into my art. As I got older and leaned into own my uniqueness, that’s when I really began to shine. I just needed something creative to help anchor my imagination.”
The SHS team believes in that imagination – and work to build the supportive community that fosters such creativity. They work hard to provide those living with HIV and AIDS with all of the supportive services necessary to thrive. Taking over this complex means Ryan hasn’t just been able to remain stable within his independence, it means he’s now connected to people who truly believe in him.
“I can honestly say this has been a smooth transition. In the short amount of time we’ve been with Heartland Alliance, I’m impressed with the communications and the professionalism. My case manager checks in pretty regularly, wants to make sure I have what I need. I’m pretty self-sufficient, so I don’t need too much – but I appreciate every effort and every time they reach out.”
More importantly, that outreach is done with great care in the time of COVID-19. The SHS program has had to take great measures to ensure their housing is sanitary and socially distanced for those with compromised immune systems. Ryan believes in the team’s diligence, and says that it creates a peace of mind during chaotic times.
“I’ve been very grateful for the communication from HHCS because they are on TOP of COVID. They tell us when they’re connecting, when to lockdown; they’re very attentive of my needs, personally, medically and financially. I appreciate them letting me continue to build my family.”
